Associate Professor Johan Potgieter, Massey University
Thursday 3 April 2014 7:30PM
Hawke’s Bay Planetarium, Chambers St, Napier

Additive manufacturing begins with computer model files which are transferred to an additive manufacturing system for building. This enables rapid prototyping as there is no need for molds or dyes. This allows design flexibility as design changes can be made at greatly reduced cost.

A wide and increasing range of additive manufacturing technologies are becoming available, covering a range of scales and materials.

Associate Professor Johan Potgieter completed a PhD in the areas of Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Mechatronics and Advanced Manufacturing from the University of Natal South Africa in 2003.

He is an Associate Professor of Mechatronics and Robotics in the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology at Massey University (Auckland).

His current research interests are mainly in areas of Additive Manufacturing and advanced mechatronics/robotics with applications in medicine and automotive related areas.

Johan has been an avid user of additive manufacturing since the mid-90s and is passionate about the potential it offers for innovation and how it allows small businesses to much more easily reach the world market. He has a well established reputation for his work in educational robotics and has been inducted into the World Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation Hall of Fame for his work in developing world champion educational robotics teams from New Zealand. He is currently conducting consulting research with HIEFF Engine and Chrysler in Detroit.

In this lecture Johan coverered developments in rapid prototyping and technologies for additive manufacturing. These developments will have a significant influence on the New Zealand Manufacturing landscape, providing new opportunities for SME in New Zealand and abroad.